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New Delhi: India and Sri Lanka are set to take another significant step towards strengthening their defence and security partnership, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh scheduled to undertake a three-day visit to Sri Lanka from September 8 to 10. During the high-level visit, the two countries are expected to discuss three new Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) focused on defence cooperation, including a proposal for Sri Lanka to acquire air-defence equipment from India.
Sri Lanka has reportedly shown interest in Indian short- and medium-range air-defence capabilities, including air-defence guns and the Akash air-defence system, to strengthen its preparedness against potential aerial threats. The proposed cooperation is expected to go beyond military hardware, with two other MoUs likely to focus on expanding training opportunities, capacity building and professional development for Sri Lankan armed forces personnel.
Rajnath Singh’s visit will also provide an opportunity for both sides to review the five-year comprehensive defence cooperation agreement signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka in April last year. During his stay, Singh is expected to meet Sri Lankan President and Defence Minister Anura Kumara Dissanayake and hold discussions on bilateral defence cooperation as well as wider regional security concerns.
The visit carries additional significance as it comes nearly 38 years after the last visit by an Indian Defence Minister to Sri Lanka, when then Defence Minister K.C. Pant travelled to the island nation in 1988. Against the backdrop of the Indian Ocean’s growing strategic importance, India and Sri Lanka are seeking to deepen cooperation in areas including maritime security, combating smuggling and strengthening regional stability.
The proposed defence initiatives are also being viewed as an important component of India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy, underlining New Delhi’s focus on building stronger security partnerships with neighbouring countries. If the proposed discussions translate into agreements, the visit could mark a major milestone in India-Sri Lanka defence relations, while further reinforcing strategic trust and security cooperation across the Indian Ocean region.
